Football

Brown and Penn Battle For First Place In The Ivy League

Providence, Rhode Island - First place in the Ivy League standings is at stake when Brown travels to Philadelphia on Saturday, October 30, to battle the Penn Quakers at Franklin Field in a 1:30 p.m. start. Brown and Penn remaining as the only undefeated teams in the Ivy League, with each team posting perfect 3-0 Ivy marks.

Brown (4-2, 3-0 Ivy) has opened its season with three straight Ivy League wins for the second time in Bears' football history, following a 27-14 win over Cornell last week. Only Brown's 2008 team, who opened 4-0, has won more Ivy games to open the season. Penn (5-1, 3-0 Ivy) earned its 11th straight Ivy League win last week, taking a 27-20 decision over Yale in New Haven.

Brown and Penn have met 78 times, dating back to 1895, with the Quakers holding a 55-21-2 series lead. Penn earned a hard-fought 14-7 win over the Bears last year in Providence and went on to win the Ivy title. Brown had won the previous four games over the Quakers, including a 34-27 victory over the Quakers at Franklin Field in 2008, which propelled the Bears to the Ivy League Championship.

Brown football coach Phil Estes has earned more Ivy League wins (54) than any coach in Brown football history. Since the Ivy League was formed in 1958, Estes' 76 overall coaching wins rank first at Brown and ninth in the Ivy record book. Estes is also second all-time in career wins at Brown, equaling Tuss McLaughry (1926-1940) for second most all-time wins (76). Only Edward North Robinson (140 wins from 1898-01, 1904-07, 1910-25) has more wins at Brown.

The Bears have been sparked by the fine play of senior quarterback Joe Springer (Mendota Heights, MN), who was named the Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week after having a big day against Cornell, completing 20 of 33 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns. His touchdowns came on throws of 20 and 13 yards against the Big Red. Two weeks ago vs. Princeton, Springer rallied the Bears in the second half, and finished by completing 21 of 31 passes for 185 yards and a touchdown against the Tigers. He has completed 77 of 129 passes for 814 yards and four touchdowns in 2010.

Freshman Alexander Norocea (Hermosa Beach, CA) has provided the Bears with a strong kicking game, and was named the Ivy League's Special Teams and Rookie of the Week for the second time after booting 2 of 2 field goals and 3 of 3 extra points against Cornell. Norocea's field goals against the Big Red came on boots of 45 and 24 yards.

Bear Facts: Senior wide receiver Alex Tounkara (Staten Island, NY) made touchdown catches of 20 and 13 yards in Brown's win over Cornell. He ranks second in the Ivy League and eighth nationally in receptions (7.0 per game), and seventh nationally in receiving yards (92.17 yards per game)… Senior tri-captain and inside linebacker Andrew Serrano (Phoenix, AZ) leads the Bears with 47 total tackles, including three for a loss, an interception, and two quarterback sacks. He led the Bears' defensive effort against Cornell with eight tackles and a quarterback sack for a loss of nine yards… Senior Jeremy Raducha (Bristol, CT) is the Ivy League leader with eight tackles for a loss of 41 yards, including a team high three quarterback sacks... Junior wide receiver Jimmy Saros (Grosse Point Park, MI) is Brown's second leading receiver with 21 receptions for 281 yards and two touchdowns.